Chapter 82: Call of the Dark Lord's Tomb: Those that Fall into Darkness

Wait! That's...

Genshin?!

Well, well, I was wondering who had wandered into my domain. It has been a long time. Have you been well?

So this is where you were! Are you okay, Genshin? What are you doing here? Where's Phantom?

Phantom? You know, I'm not quite sure.

Don't play dumb with us! Where's the god's coffin?! I'm here to seal it up good and proper, so just 'fess up already!

You're going to seal god's coffin? You're a spirited one, aren't you, little girl? But don't you know your place? Oh, that's right. Let me do you a favor and tell you a little secret. I am no longer scum.

What's that supposed to mean?

Don't you know? You don't know, do you? Mwahahahaha!

Then keep those eyes of yours wide open...and behold!

What do you think? I am the lord of dissent... The Demon Lord Genshin!

Genshin! Why d'you look like that?!

Mwahaha! Did I surprise you? I shocked you, didn't I? Even I was amazed! Mwahahahaha! I have been reborn! How do you like my new appearance? Well? In awe, are you? This power surging within me! All this life, passion, and yearning overflowing from me! I can't take it! I can't take it!

Genshin... Have you been possessed by the darkness? You complete fool!

No, no... I have taken in the power of darkness. But I am in control of it!

What is this nonsense you've been prattling on about? I do not think you are being entirely honest with us.

Nonsense? This is my kingdom, and it is perfect for a man as great as I. I cannot let just anyone pass through here. Oh, that's right. I will have you serve me! Then you can live in serenity for eternity, here in the kingdom of darkness. As my servants!

I don't think talking to him is going to work. It looks like he's gone over to the other side.

I am in complete agreement! I hypothesize that the main system of this ex-human has crashed.

Snap out of it, Genshin! We don't have the time to be messing about with you! We have business with Phantom. Don't go getting in our way!

There's no point in fighting with us here! Come to your senses, Genshin!

I've already come to my senses! And it is I who decides whether there's any point in fighting! If you're going to take that attitude with me, well, I just might have to take your life. He with the power will always win. This is the way of the world, and nothing can go against it. Or didn't you know that?

Looks like we can't reason with him. If we want to seal the coffin, we'll have to get him out of the way.

What are you grumbling about? Do you want me to show you my true power, now I've been reborn? The great Demon Lord Genshin... Will absolutely destroy you with his transcendental power! Prepare yourselves! Mwahahahaha!

Whatever happens, we're going to seal the god's coffin and get Eden back! Come on then, Genshin! It's on!

Graaagh! I-I lost?! How could the great Demon Lord Genshin lose?! Aaaaargh! No, no... This can't be real! NOOOO!

You fool. It would never have been possible for someone like you to become one with the pitch-darkness. A scummy feudal lord is all you could ever amount to. You should be thankful you're walking away with your life. Farewell to the first tomb keeper, to the first key. It's time you went back to your own world.

Nh?! Aaaagh... Aaaaaaargh! The scum shall live forever!

He went back to his world? I'd have preferred it if he'd played nice, at least for a bit...

Honestly, that guy sure likes to waste our time.

However, his disappearance had weighed heavy on my mind. I am most pleased that we found him.

Well, I guess we should seal the god's coffin.

Nyanji got it. It's not my responsibility to do as other people ask. I'm doing this because I choose to do it.

Done and done! Now the Mark of Man's coffin is sealed again.

Well done, Necoco. This now means the first tomb is locked. Looks like Phantom isn't here, so let's go to the next tomb!

So this is the second tomb. The Mark of Beast's coffin...

Welcome to the burial site of the ancient god. Lost humans, and the beast granted a false life!

Garneli?!

From the looks of you... Has the darkness taken over you too?! Wait, we can free you from the darkness and get you back to normal.

Free me? Heheheh... Ahahahahahaha! You fools! I've finally got that which I've always wanted. A better plan would be for me to convert you to my side, don't you think, Aldo?

What? What are you talking about?

Listen to me Aldo... No, Kyros. The cat who traveled across time and space.

Huh?!

Inside that human body of yours, you're all alone, aren't you, Kyros? I was alone, too. No friends, no family...

Then one day, I found myself ruler of a country... All at the convenience of selfish idiots! Human nature was the same in the ancient times as it is now. They are foolish, sneaky, cowardly, greedy, selfish, and cruel. Nothing will ever change. It will be this way for eternity. That is just what humans are.

But now, I am a follower of the great one, and I will be with them forever more! Come to me, Kyros! You can be with us too! Let great wisdom and serenity embrace you! You exist within a human body, yet you are not human. You are nothing more than a creature living a false, transient life. You are not like your companions. You are just a cat beyond time and space, Kyros...

Kyros... I am not human... I am not like my companions... I am just a cat beyond time and space...

Aldo?

That's right. Come to me, Kyros. Your beloved Eden is here as well. You can be together forever...

Eden? I can be with Eden?

Whatever is the matter, Aldo?

No! Aldo, you can't!

Snap out of it!

You're not alone, Aldo! You've got us! We're always here with you!

You can't let her deceive you!

Huh...?

It's okay, Feinne. You don't need to worry.

Aldo!

Garneli... You said I was a creature living a false, transient life? I'm Aldo! I'm going to get Eden back, and remain Aldo until the day I die!

Pff... If you insist on being human, then you can perish in the darkness with the rest of them! Face me, you fools! Soon you will know quite how strong this power I've received from the Mark of Beast's Tomb truly is!

Garneli, that's enough! Give up already.

Ugh! How could you be so strong...?

Listen to me, Garneli. You were possessed by the darkness, and this was all just a bad dream. You'll forget this nightmare and return to the surface. There are people who need you back in your country. They'll be waiting for you.

People who need me... Back in my country?

That's right.

Yeah, definitely. You've never been alone, Garneli.

Indeed. Your best course of action would be to return to your people.

I understand. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I pray we may meet again. In Nagsham, where I belong.

You'd better hurry, keeper of the second tomb... Or rather, the second key.

How absurd. How could you humans beat one with the power of darkness?

Phantom?! What're you doing here?

Please! Please give me back my brother!

If you want Eden back so badly, you're going to have to take him back yourselves. Come... Come to the final resting place of the immortal god, here in the Dark Lord's Tomb! Now that I have Eden's power, do you really think you can take me on? I'll be waiting for you, Aldo!

Eden!

Darn it! Just you wait, Phantom! We're going to get Eden back!

Okay Necoco, why don't you seal the Mark of Beast's coffin? We should get that sorted before we move on.

Got it, Aldo.

Done and done! Now the Mark of Beast's coffin is sealed again.

Well done, Necoco. This now means the second tomb is locked. Let's go the next one! We must save Eden no matter what!